Avenged Sevenfold formed in 1999 in Huntington Beach, California, as a heavy metal band by high school friends M. Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, The Rev, and Matt Wendt. The band's name references the biblical story of Cain and Abel. Synyster Gates joined as lead guitarist in 2001, solidifying the classic lineup. The group achieved mainstream success with their 2005 album City of Evil, which produced singles including "Bat Country" and "Seize the Day." Avenged Sevenfold's musical style encompasses heavy metal, progressive metal, and hard rock, evolving across eight studio albums released since 2001. The band won Best New Artist at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. Following the death of original drummer The Rev in 2009, Brooks Wackerman joined in 2016 and has remained with the band. Their discography includes notable releases such as Nightmare (2010), Hail to the King (2013), The Stage (2016), and Life Is But a Dream… (2023). The band continues to perform internationally and remains active in the metal music scene.